Anti-Social Dog to Begin Obedience Class--Advice Please!

[MidwesternGal]

**This got pretty long, as I'm fairly worried. Thanks in advance for reading! I appreciate all your support and help!**


I was wondering if you could give me advice about my first training class with my *extremely* anti-social dog. We start on Tuesday, and I'm starting to get nervous.

Cassie (a 1.5 yr old lab-mutt mix) is a pretty good dog for my husband and me, and my parents (she spends 1 weekend a month with them and their 3 dogs). . . . but she hasn't really been socialized to strangers/new dogs--at all. We got her when we moved, and since we didn't know anyone, she hasn't been around a lot of people. Now, as we are *finally* making friends, etc, it has become a problem. She doesn't like it when people approach her, and backs away, scared (and sometimes barks and does these little woofs).

Her personality has always been that of a "nervous nellie," so I decided to look into training classes. I met with one trainer last week who came HIGHLY recommended, but her class was 1/2 over. . . but she offered to take a look and give me advice to start with until I began training this week. Well, the trainer basically said she's very unsociable (which I all ready knew, hence the classes). The trainer is glad that I'm starting Cassie in classes, because she said she was afraid Cassie might "fear bite" someone.

Her behavior has gotten worse in the last couple months, due to a LARGE new dog moving in upstairs (we live in an apt building) and another dog being off it's leash and running right up to her outside our door.

I plan to call the school tomorrow and ask if I could bring her early, so she could watch everyone else arrive (I think this would be less scary than coming in to a full class, but correct me if I'm wrong). When I signed up for the class, the trainer, Sharon, said that she would fit Cassie for a collar that fits her needs. . . . . but I'd really prefer that she not handle my dog until I am sure about the situation. Would a trainer listen to me or not? The other trainer kinda took over and just grabbed the dog from me when we met, and Cassie didn't react very well to that, and I don't want that to happen again.

I really want these classes to work out, as I want to be a wonderful mommy to my Cassie and a GREAT pet owner, and I feel just awful about how she behaves when I talk to people outside and we meet new people. I have a wonderful dog "behind closed doors" (so to speak) and I want others to see that too!

On the plus side, Cassie is pretty smart (yes, I know, all doggie moms say that. . . but she really is!), and she knows "sit" "shake" and "stay" (though the amt of time "stay" works varies), as well as the word "no." So I feel once she gets the socialization part worked out, she will do pretty well. I'm just getting worried about the first class!!!

Anyway, thanks for reading. I guess I'm looking for support/advice. I do understand that we should have gotten her into classes before now, and I feel awful.

Thanks again!!

[Vegastrtle]

Does she get along with your parents' dogs? Maybe the 4 of them (and all their people) can go to a local dog park...she'd have the comfort of dogs she knows..and she'd be able to see social behavior that is normal. You'd want to be prepared to leave the park if it's too much (when she was a puppy, we'd watch the dogs play before Murphy was ready to go in herself). I'd suggest you not go when it's too crowded..and be prepared for all the dogs in the park running over to greet her when she arrives.

I'd talk this over with a qualified trainer before doing it though...s/he'd be able to confirm whether this is a good idea :)

Good luck!

[ejs]

Please don't take her to a dog park until you've finished your obedience classes. It's frustrating when unpredictable dogs show up at the park. And you can be held responsible if your dog bites another dog or a person.

You need to rememember that your trainer has probably dealt with many different types of dogs. So while you don't want her to handle your dog right away, she might think it's the best thing.

We were very fortunate to have an amazing trainer. I've never seen anyone so talented with dogs; it was as if she really is a dog whisperer.

[colleenjoy]

We took our "nervous nellie" dog through obediance training twice, once with me and once with my husband. Millie was abused before we got her so she was/is afraid of people and other dogs and loud noises and...you get the picture. our trainer was great with millie.

she did recomend a different collar (she had us switch to a pronged collar). i always thought they looked barbaric, but millie is so strong and the collar doesn't really seem to hurt her. now that she's more controllable we use a halti.

class was really hard on millie, strange dogs/people. i would suggest going early to get her used to the room withough other dogs/people. talk to the trainer and see if you could maybe have a private session prior to class.

dont be suprised if your dog does great at home with her commands and is horrible at class. I felt so bad when millie would not do anything i asked her to do in class, when she would totally obey me at home. the trainer said that was ok, millie was still freaked out by the other dogs. as long as we were seeing improvement at home she was making progress.

after two times through the class she was better, less nervous, more accepting of strangers. it has taken a lot of time though, but it was worth it to see millie not so afraid.

good luck, if this first trainer doesn't seem to work, try another.

Colleen

[fuzzy]

Yes, please do NOT take your dog to a dog park. I have a nervous nellie too and the situation would easily get out of hand.

Can you tell us a little about the first trainer and her interaction with your dog? Sometimes, I think its hard to see a strangers be so, oh, firm with our babies. Our trainer was VERY form with our dog and I was all upset because I KNEW she was scared. The thing was, after a few minutes, my dog realized she no longer had to be the psychotic protector of all because there was someone else in charge (the trainer). My point is that you may want to just give it a chance. Change isn't always easy, so she may get frustrated, angry etc. As long as there isn't any physical mistreatment, trust your trainer a little bit

[MidwesternGal]

Hi!
Thanks for the quick replies! My husband tells me I'm worrying too much, as a trainer will have seen it all, but I can't help it!

I suppose I should have added that Cassie gets along WONDERFULLY with my parents dogs (and even their neighbor's dogs), absolutely no problem there. That's why I didn't realize it was such a problem until the new dogs/new tenants moved in here--we just thought she was more timid than most, not necessarily a problem dog.

In response to your replies:

Vegastrtle: Actually, the first trainer (the one who just gave pointers) told me to take her to a park in town where lots of dogs are walked. However, I wanted to wait until the first class was over before trying that. I live in a small town, so we don't have any non-leash dog parks.

ejs: I don't plan to take her to a crowded park until I see how she does in class. You sound like my husband--he tells me not to worry, as the trainer (if she's good) should know how to handle Cassie.

collenjoy: Thanks for the story!! It's good to hear about a success! I definitely plan to be there early tomorrow night. Last thing I want to do is to have to shove the dog into a crowded room. I also plan to bring plenty of summer sausage as the first trainer we met with had some, and that's the only way Cassie let her touch her!

fuzzy: The first trainer's class was over 1/2 done, that is why we didn't go with her, but she offered to meet with us for 30 minutes to give some pointers until we start class with Sharon on Tuesday. I have no problem being firm, as the dogs on my family's farm definitely needed a firm hand at times. I did have a problem when she basically backed the dog into the wall, then proceeded to reach for her face (all the while holding a new collar), and then seem almost triumphant when Cassie royally flipped out. Despite that, actually, I do feel she is a good trainer, and told her if the first class we signed up for doesn't work out, we will take her class in the spring. It was more an issue with the trainer's attitude/personality than the actual techniques she was using/giving to me (in fact, since getting the tips from her, I can see a positive difference all ready, and so could my family)--so I know she is quite good. So, long story short, we couldn't take her class anyway, and she is very firm, so we will in the spring if the class this fall doesn't work out.

Again, thank you ALL for the replies!!! It helps to make me feel better, and I know dogs can sense our feelings, so I want to feel confident when we walk into the class tomorrow night!! I'm glad to hear your take on the situation, and to know that I have some support (my hubby doesn't think the dog is as bad as she is, because he doesn't walk her and I do).

I will update after class tomorrow and let you know how it goes! Thanks again!

[MidwesternGal]

UPDATE!

Hello all!

Just wanted to let you know that things went MUCH better then I expected!! We sat and watched for 1/2 the class, and then joined in after she relaxed a little bit. She finally let Sharon (the trainer) touch her at the end of class!! There are several dogs whose behavior was much worse than hers (she just shook and shyed away from people).

I think it's going to work out!

Thanks ladies for your advice!!